Means for automatically and progressively regulating vehicle speed



Feb. 14, 1950 2,497,338

F. BARON MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND PROGRESSIVELY REGULATING VEHICLE SPEED Filed March 15. 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. Hay .5442o/r d m/ M Feb. 14, 1950 F. BARON MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND PROGRESSIVELY REGULATING VEHICLE SPEED 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1946 nvmvroa. 2 20 759429.

Feb. 14, 1950 F. BARON 2,497,338

MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND PROGRESSIVELY REGULATING VEHICLE SPEED 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 13, 1946 NB m m mm mm INVENTOR. E40) y 529404 Y Js TTm/wsx Feb. 14, 1950 F. BARON MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND PROGRESSIVELY REGULATING VEHICLE SPEED '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 13, 1946 Feb. 14, 1950 Filed March 15, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ja ne/m2.

.Feb. 14, 1950 F. BARON 2,497,333

MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND PROGRESSIVELY REGULATING VEHICLE SPEED Filed March 13, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 14, .1950 F. BARON 2,

MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND PROGRESSIVELY REGULAT ING VEHICI E SPEED 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 15. 1946 Patented Feb. 14, 1950 MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND PRO- GRESSIVELY REGULATING VEHICLE .SPEED Flory Baron,

Marseille, France,

assignor of twenty-five per cent to Leon Mingaud, Long Island City, N. Y.

Application March 13, 1946, Serial No. 654,158 In France April 26, 1945 1 Claim: (Cl. 74-152) This invention relates to means for regulating the transmission of engine speed to the driving axle of a vehicle, and one of its objects is to transmit mechanically to the driving shaft, the maximum energy, through the medium of different combinations of reducing gears.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a speed regulating means, with double acting devices, whose resistance to-rotation increases with the speed of the drive shaft, and which, develop a regulative effect on differential mechanism, which will be progressive, continuous and which will operate by the use of a minor fraction of the energy of the prime motor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for regulating the speed of transmitted motion, which will include an air compressor delivering its output to the prime motor or internal combustion engine, and automatic means for recovering energy dispersed through the combined system.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain new and useful constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following speciilcation, and fully illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a combined gear mechanism and clutch, and the drive for an air charging compressor, shown partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a side view of an internal combustion engine showing the installation of the combined equipment.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a gear mechanism, shown partly in elevation, and including an hydraulic turbine or oil circulating means for dispersing and storing up energy, capable of being partly reabsorbed.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, partly in side elevation, of another form of the invention, wherein a sliding gear is combined with an air compressor drive.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing a multiple planetary gear drive combined with an air compressor drive.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a combined planetary gear drive, clutch and brake.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing a modified gear drive and an enclosed oil circulating. rotor.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of another form of the invention, wherein a worm drive for the vehicle is combined with a planetary gear mechanism and a combined clutch and brake mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 1, 5 designates a gear housing, having an end wall 6, and a main body wall I. The end wall 6 is formed with a V-shaped circular groove 8, and a detachable end plate 9 is secured to the body wall I by means of the bolts Ill. The end wall 6 is provided with ball or roller bearings H, through which the hollow auxiliary shaft I2 extends. The end plate 9 is provided with a bearing |8, axially aligned with the bearings through which th vehicle drive or propeller shaft It extends, the two shafts being thus axially aligned.

The end wall 6 carries a series of stud shafts IS, on each of which a sleeve I5 is mounted to turn, and this sleeve is formed with four gears indicated at l1, |8, I9 and 20. The gear I! has meshing engagement with the small pinion gear 2|, keyed to the auxiliary shaft l2. The gears I6 and 20 have meshing engagement with the gears la and 20a, keyed to the motor or engine shaft l2. The intermediate gear l9 has meshing engagement with the internal gear 23, carried by the crown cylinder 24, which has an integral end wall 25 on which the bearing I3 is formed.

The auxiliary shaft I2 is tubular and a solid motor shaft |2a-extends through the same. On this tubular shaft I2 a pulley wheel 26 is mounted to turn independently of the shaft, and for this purpose rotates in the groove 21 of the auxiliary shaft l2. On the tubular shaft I! a sleeve 28 is mounted to slide and this sleeve is provided with a clutch flange 29, which is adapted to engage the clutch cone 26a of the pulley wheel 26. A coil spring 30 is disposed between an outer flange 21a of the shaft |2a and an inner shaft 21b of the-sleeve 28, to normally hold the clutch flange 29 toward the clutch cone 26a. Suitable means may be provided for shifting the clutch sleeve 28 to cause the two clutch elements to be disengaged, either by hand or foot, or otherwise.

The pulley wheel 26 has driving connection with the flexible belt 3|, which drives the pulley wheel 32, of the shaft 33, which turns in the bearings 34 of the housing 35. This shaft carries' a helicoidal gear 36, which is engaged by the worm 31 or corresponding helicoiclal gear 38, on the shaft 39 of the rotary air compressor or blower 40. This blower has an output tube or pipe 4|, which delivers the compressed or blown air to the air intake of the engine, not shown, and in this output tube or pipe a regulating valve 42 is arranged, to operate from remote control, not shown. The groove 8 is engaged by a V-belt 8a, which may exert a blocking action to the ingly the sleeve |6 with the gears l1, l8 and 20 will start turning on the stud shafts bringing about a slight retardment between the gears I81: and 28a and the internal gear 28 of the crown cylinder 24. The rotation of the sleeve |8 will produce an acceleration in the speed of the small pinion gear 2| and thereby of the rotor of the compressor 46. The compressor will thus provide a greater feed to the motor increasing the power output.

If, however, the load on the shaft |4 falls on, the sleeves I5 will again turn on the stud shafts l5, however, in the other direction than in the previous case, thereby slowing down the small pinion gear 2| and also the rotor of the compressor 48. Consequently the power output of the motor will fall off and the speed of the motor shaft |2a will be reduced until the speed of the shafts 12a and I4 is balanced again. At that point the sleeves |6 stop turning on the stud shafts l5. 1

In order to reverse the direction of the vehicle the following steps are taken: The sleeve 28 is moved in axial direction against the force of the spring 80 thereby disconnecting the compressor. Then, the V-belt 8a is tightened in the groove 8 of the wall 6 preventing the rotation of the gear housing 6 and thus the stud shafts |5 are also blocked. In this manner the crown cylinder 24 and thereby the shaft H are forced to rotate in reverse direction.

In Fig. 2 I show the application of the improved gear mechanism to an internal combustion engine 48. The shaft 88 is coupled to the armature shaft of the generator 44, to the oil pump 45, the water pump 48, and is equipped with an air fan or screw 41.

In Fig. 3 I show a gear housing 58, having an end wall 5|, formed with a part housing 52 for the oil circulating rotor 58. The end .wall 5| is formed with a circular V-groove 54, which is engaged by the band or belt 55 for the purpose of blocking the housing 56 against rotation. A companion housing part 56 is bolted to the housing part or section 52 by the bolts 51. The rotor 53 is mounted to turn on the sleeve shaft 58, carried by the motor shaft 58. The end wall 5| is formed with a bearing (not shown) through which the sleeve shaft 58 and the motor shaft 58 extend.

cone 18 of the sleeve 1|,.- which slides on the sleeve shaft 56. A coil spring 12 is disposed between the housing section hub 56a and the clutch cone 18. A spanner collar 13 is connected or formed integral with the sliding clutch sleeve 1|, and engagedby the lever arm I4, so that the clutch may be manually released.

The gear mechanism shown in Fig. 3 operates in the same manner as described in the operation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. The regulator, however, comprises a hydraulic turbine. The rotor 53 of the turbine feeds a fluid. preferably oil on the blades provided in the interior of the rotor which is integral with the gear housing 58. By this arrangement the mechanical action of diilerential pinions is linked to the action of a regulator deducting a part (5 to 25%) of the driving power to assure the progressive variation of the demultlplication ratios of the differential gears.

In Fig. 4 I show another form of the invention, wherein the gear housing 88 is provided with a bearing 8| for the vehicle drive shaft 82. this shaft is aligned axially with the engine transfer shaft 83, which carries the sleeve 84. This sleeve is formed or provided with a gear 85, which meshes with the gear 86, carried by the main engine shaft 81. The gear 86 has a sliding spline connection with the main engine shaft 81, and is shifted by means of the shifter rod 88, which is provided with the usual shifter fork or arm 88 to engage the gear 86. This gear 86 carries a smaller gear 860. which does not mesh with the gear 85 of the sleeve 84, but can be moved into meshing engagement with the internal gear 88 of the lilig- 9|, which is formed integral with the sleeve 84.

The outer end of the transfer shaft 88 has a bearing at 83a on the housing section 82, and is equipped with a helicoidal gear 83, which eng'ages thesmaller helicoidal gear 84, on the cross shaft 85, of the rotor or fan of the air compressor 86, which is provided with an output tube or pipe 81 for delivering air under pressure to the engine intake. A manually operated valve 88 is arranged in this output tube or pipe.

The ring 8| is equipped with a plurality of stud shafts 8| a. The latter carry gears 82a which mesh the internal gears 83a of the crown 84a. and at the same time the regulator pinion 85a. which is connected with the transfer shaft 63 by means of the clutch device 86a. The crown 84a is keyed to the vehicle drive shaft 82 and the transfer shaft 88 rotates freely in the This end wall 5| also carries a series of stud shafts 60, on which the sleeves 8| are mounted to freely turn. Each sleeve is formed with four gears 62, 68, 64 and 65. The gear 62 meshes with the gear pinion 62a of the sleeve shaft 58, the gears 63 and 65 mesh with the gears 63a and 65a of the motor shaft 58. The gear 64 meshes with the internal gear ring 66, carried by the crown cylinder 61, which is formed with an integral hub 68 providing a connection to the vehicle drive shaft 68. The auxiliary sleeve shaft 58 rotates freely on the motor shaft 58.

The oil rotor 58 is provided with an internal clutch cone 58a, which is engaged by the clutch sleeve 84. The shaft 88 puts into action either an air compressor or a regulator apparatus as disclosed in Fig. 2 or a rotor of a mydraulic turbine as disclosed in Fig. 4. The action of the regulator pinion a controls the rotation of the gears 82a and thereby the speed of the crown 84a and consequently of the shaft 82.

Thus, the construction shown in Fig. 4 operates as a rotation reverser of the propeller shaft. The reversing will be achieved by slidingzthe gears 86 and 86d towards the ring 8| disengaging the gear 85 which operates for forward driving and then meshing the gear 86a with the internal gear 86 of the ring 8|. This shifting of the gears 86 and 86a may be performed by foot or hand by means of the shifter rod 88 which carries the shifter fork 88.

In Fig. 5 I show a housing I86, having end bearings "II and I62. The shaft I88 extends through bearings IM and the shaft |88a extends through bearings 68. On one end portion of the shaft m the ring Il4' is keyed, and this rm;-

' bevel gears II2 simultaneously engage the bevel disc gear II3, which is keyed to the shaft I03a, and the ring gear II4, which turns on the shaft I'3a. The ring gear I I4 carries a series of radial stud shafts H5, and on each of these shafts a bevel gear H6 is mounted to turn. The bevel gears II6 simultaneously engage the disc gears II 1 and Ill, the disc gear II1 being keyed to the shaft I03a and the disc gear II3 turning freely thereon. The disc gear H6 is formed integral with the sleeve I20, which turns on the shaft I03a,

and on this sleeve the helicoidal gear I2I is formed or secured, and this helicoidal gear has driving engagement with the helicoidal gear I2 Ia of the blower shaft I22,. which operates the rotor of the air blower I23, the output pipe I24 of which is provided with an internal valve I25.

The embodiment shown in Fig. is designed with a view for obtaining greater speed of the regulator-compressor giving the best output for the different uses, at the same time reducing to a minimum the dispersed power by this regulating apparatus.

If it is assumed that there is a balance between the motor power and the load, the shaft I03a will be driven at the same speed as the motor shaft I03, the bevel gears I06, I I2, and I I6 will not turn and the compressor will operate at moderate speed.

If, however, the load on the shaft I03a increases, the latter will have the tendency to slow down and thereby also the bevel gears I01, I I3, and I I1. Consequently the bevel gears I06, H2, and I I6 will turn on the respective stud shafts I05, I I I, and H5, thereby increasing the speed of the ring frame I01. The latter drives the ring frame IIO, stud shaft III, and bevel gear H2. The speed of the freely turning bevel gear I I4 will be doubled compared with that of the previous bevel gear and at the same time the bevel gear II4 will operate the stud shaft H5 and the bevel gear II6, which will double again its speed, and finally the movement is transferred to the disk gear H6. The latter dr ves the rotor of the air blower I23 as stated above. In this manner it is possible to obtain a transmission at variable speed and particularly on the shaft I03a carrying the load, exceeding of the motor power and whatever the driving speed of the shaft Be the last minus losses due to friction, is absorbed by the compressor which, by preeompressing the feeding gases of the motor, brings back the greatest part of the dispersed energy to the motor.

Yet, if the load on the shaft I03a diminishes, the same action as described above takes place, however, in reverse direction. In this case it is even possible that the shaft I03 turns at greater speed than that of the shaft I03a.

In Fig. 6 I show a combined planetary gear drive and a cone clutch assembly, which includes the stationary element I30, which is formed with an internal clutch cone or brake cone I3I, which is engaged by the sliding clutch and brake cone I32, which is mounted to slide on the shaft I33,

against the spring I34. The end wall I36 of the clutch element or cone I32 is equipped with stud shafts I33, which carry the spur gears I31, which simultaneously engage the gear I33 on the inner end of the shaft I33, and the internal gear I33 of the ring I40, which is mounted to turn with the driven vehicle shaft HI, and which carries a clutch cone I42, which may be engaged by the clutch cone I32. When the clutch and brake cone I32 is engaged with the clutch cone I42 the two shafts I33 and I will be coupled in driving engagement, and when the clutch and brake cone I32 engages the fixed cone I3I a braking action will develop, which will be transmitted through the gear train, which is of a planetary type, to the shaft I'4I.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 6 represents an apparatus for reversing the drive, as for instance, in connection with the. embodiment shown in Fig. 5. This apparatus is based on the principle of providing a group of planetary pinions combined with a clutch and brake, the latter rendering immovable the intermediate piniens.

Thus, driving forward is obtained by normal engagement of the clutch and brake cone I32 with the clutch cone I42, thereby blocking the spur gears I31 by means of the internal gear I39 of the ring I40, which thereby also blocks the gear I38. Shaft I4I, therefore, turns in the same direction as shaft I33. Yet, if the clutch and brake cone I32 is engaged with the brake on the stud shafts I36 and the shaft I4I will turn in opposite direction to that of the shaft I33.

Fig. '1 shows a differential speed variator in connection with the rear or front axle of an automobile. According to the arrangement the conventional differential of a rear axle is combined with complementary differential gears together with a regulator as a hydraulic turbine disclosed inFig. 3.

The motor shaft I12 turns the bevel gear I10 by means of the bevel pinion gear I1 I. The bevel gear I10, which is centered by its axle I65 carries the stud shafts I68 on which the bevel gears I61 turn. The bevel gears I61 mesh both bevel disc gears I66 and I10, the bevel'disc gear I10 being keyed to the shaft I14 of one of the wheels. The bevel disc gear I66 drives the shaft I56 of the other wheel through the speed variator. The latter comprises a pinion gear I51 which meshes the pinion spur gears I59. The latter mesh also the internal gear of the ring I6I which is connected or integral with the inner housing I53 and the latter is keyed to the shaft I56 which drives the other wheel (not shown). The spur gears I59 carry another gear I58 of larger diameter which gear I58 meshes the pinion gear I51 of the regulator which comprises the rotor I54. The latter is keyed to the shaft I55 and the'rotor 28 may be connected to the shaft I56 by means of the clutch I54a. The shaft I55 passes through the partition wall I55a which forms together with the inner housing the oil case. In this case the blades I56a are provided. The rotor I54 projects the liquid tangentially towards the blades I56a and thus turns the wheel. 1

The apparatus operates basically in the same manner as described with the construction shown in Fig. 3, however, with the difference that a first differential balance will come about between the bevel disc gears I66 and I10 by means of the bevel gears I61 which are driven by the engine shaft I12 over the gears I10 and Ill.

ass-mas sary bearings, lubricating means and the clutch arrangement lilo.

In Fig 8 I show a housing I88, in which the cross shaft I 8| is mounted to turn, and which. has suitable driving engagement with the traction road wheels of the vehicle, as by a front or rear axle, mounted to turn in its bearings. This cross shaft I8I is equipped with a helicoidal gear I82, and with the usual differential, not shown. The helicoidal gear I82 is engaged by the helicoidal gear I88 on the hollow shaft I85. This shaft forms integral a ring I85, which is formed with an internal ring I 81, engaged by the planetary spur gears I88, which turn on the stud shafts I88, carried by the disc I98, which turns on the sleeve I 8|, which turns on the hollow shaft I85. The sleeve I9I is attached to the disc I92, which carries the spur gears I98 on the stud shafts I98, which simultaneously engage the internal gear ring I85 and the pinion gear I88, which is keyed to the regulating shaft I84 extending through the hollow shaft I85. The ring gear I98 is mounted on the inner end of the shaft I 99, and turns relative thereto. The shaft I99 has a pinion gear 288 splined thereto, which is engaged by the planetary spur gears 28I, mounted to turn on the stud shafts 282, carried by the end plate 282a of the housing. This end plate is equipped with a clutch and brake cone 283 which is adapted to have clutching engagement with the clutch cone 284, of the internal gear ring I98, and is also adapted to have braking action with the internal cone 285, formed on the end plate 286 of the housing I88.

The end plate 282a slides on the shaft I99 against the coil spring 281, and is shifted by means of the shifter lever 288.

The construction shown in Fig. 8 will operate in the following manner: The motor shaft I89 drives the first differential unit and depending upon the position of the clutch and. brake cone 283 the wheels are driven in forward or backward direction. This motion is transferred over the two sets of differential gears provided in the housing I 88 to the helicoidal gear I83 and over the gear I 82 to the cross shaft I8I carrying the wheels (not shown).

In the constructions shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, a rotary air compressor is coupled with the speed varying mechanism to absorb the energy of the transmission shaft, and thus the load of the vehicle controls the feeding of air'to the engine.

In the constructions shown in Figs. 3 and 7, this conversion of shaft energy is made by circulating oil under the force of a rotary turbine or circulator, which is directly coupled to the speed regulating transmission mechanism.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 8 the transmission of energy from the engine shaft to a the driven vehicle shaft is made through planetary gear mechanism, a manually or automatically shifted clutch mechanism, which couples the planetary gear mechanism.

In each of these forms the transmission v of energy from the main engine shaft to the driven vehicle shaft is accomplished by the dispersion of energy through an intermediate mechanism or work absorbing unit, and this unit/performs the useful function of returning to the main drive shaft line some of the energy which it absorbs or stores up, so as to aid the work line in service when the load impressed upon it calls for the application of increased energy.

It is understood that various changes in the details of construction, their combination and arrangement, may be made, within the scope of the invention, defined by the claim hereof.

Having described the invention I claim as new: In a transmisison, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, and a hollow auxiliary shaft turning freely on the driving shaft, a first pinion keyed to the auxiliary shaft, at least one second pinion keyed to the driving shaft, a housing, turnably mounted on the auxiliary shaft, means for blocking the housing against rotation, a plurality of stud shafts extending in axialdirection secured to the housing, a sleeve freely turning on each of said stud shafts, at least three gears on said sleeve, a crown member having an internal gear in said housing, said crown being connected with the driven shaft, one of the three gears of the sleeve meshing the pinion of the driving shaft, a second one of the three gears meshing the pinion of the auxiliary shaft and the third of the three gears meshing with the internal gear of the crown.

FLORY BARON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name Date 721,624 Tregurtha Feb. 24, 1903 1,203,265 Radcliffe Oct. 31, 1916 1,242,974 Pinckney Oct. 16, 1917 1,377,377 Wheeler May 10, 1921 1,388,324 Carr Aug. 23, 1921 1,473,487 McCarthy Nov. 6, 1923 1,732,405 Invernizzi Oct. 22, 1929 1,764,849 O'Connor June 17, 1930 2,091,356 Fawcett Aug. 31, 1937 2,235,370 Jandasek Mar. 18, 1941 2,372,883 Daub Apr. 3, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 287,595 Great Britain Mar. 29, 1928 

